In 2005, state governors and educational leaders agreed the country needs to boost achievement levels to prepare students for college and demanding 21st century jobs. That's a good idea and lots of educational leaders and politicians have mouthed similar words since Achieve Inc. conducted its National Education Summit on High Schools (see here). The challenge, as always, is not just coming up with agreement to the problem, but actually agreeing on a plan and carrying it through to fruition.
In a follow up to the 2005 meeting, Achieve, a bipartisan, non-profit organization devoted to raising school standards, reports that Ohio has made progress. The state has adopted some of the improvements recommended three years ago, such as aligning its standards with those of college readiness. Also, Ohio has developed a stronger core curriculum and now requires students to enroll in courses that prepare them for college entry and decent-paying work. In addition, Ohio plans to carry out the remaining steps of the 2005 strategy: adding college- and career-ready standards to school-assessment systems; developing longitudinal data systems to track student progress through college; and holding high schools and postsecondary institutions accountable for students' preparation for life after graduation.
These are all steps in the right direction, but the state's educators still have much work ahead of them if the state is serious about the goal to have all young people college ready.
Read: 2008 Closing the Expectations Gap: An Annual 50-State Progress Report on the Alignment of High School Policies with the Demands of College and Careers, by Achieve, Inc.
